Breaking down Chris Prosinski's touchdown-saving tackle vs. Packers

Safety Chris Prosinski had a role in both turnovers the Chicago Bears forced in their 17-13 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving. But his biggest play might have been a touchdown-saving tackle late in the second quarter.

The Packers had second-and-goal from the 15-yard line with 2 minutes, 54 seconds remaining in the first half of a 7-7 game. They ran a screen pass to running back James Starks for what initially appeared to be a walk-in touchdown.

Starks caught the ball and had right guard T.J. Lang and left guard Josh Sitton blocking front of him. Prosinski was the only Bears player between Starks and the end zone. He weighs a feathery 208 pounds compared to Lang and Sitton’s combined weight of 632.

“I seen a lot of big dudes coming,” Prosinski said afterward. “For me, I tried to be elusive.”

Sure enough, he was. Prosinski dodged Lang’s block and tackled Starks at the 5-yard line. The Bears defense held on third down, and the Packers settled for a field goal. Wouldn’t you know it, that four-point difference turned out to be the margin of victory.

Let’s take a closer look.

The first picture below sets up the play. Sitton (71) and Lang (70) released to the right after temporarily slowing up Bears defensive linemen Jarvis Jenkins and Eddie Goldman, respectively. They eventually set their sights on Prosinski (31), who lined up inside the 5-yard line. Center J.C. Tretter (73) released to block Bears inside linebacker Christian Jones (59).

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In the next picture, taken from the All-22 camera, Starks has caught the ball and started upfield. Tretter locked onto Jones (circled in pink) and receiver James Jones blocked cornerback Tracy Porter (circled in pink) near the right sideline. Outside linebacker Willie Young (97) pursued Starks from behind, but Prosinski was the Bears’ best hope for saving a touchdown—and he had two 300-pound linemen bearing down on him.

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The next picture undoubtedly will rile folks in the Packers meeting rooms this week. If Lang and Sitton did their jobs and bulldozed Prosinski, Starks would have had an easy touchdown.

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In the picture below, from the end zone camera, you can see how bleak this looked for Prosinski. Starks was behind two big blockers with a two-way go.

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But Prosinski made a terrific play by darting left around Lang and then diving back to the right.

“I saw the screen,” he said. “Just trying to get around the (blockers), which I knew I was quicker than. So, make a few moves and get the tackle.”

(NFL Game Pass)

Check out Prosinski’s tackle in the picture below. He’s low and dives through Starks’ legs.

“It’s something we knew coming into the week, that their screen game was huge and they liked to use their backs -- (Eddie) Lacy and 44 -- in the screen game,” he said. “I was just trying to make a play, trying to buy a couple of extra downs and force a field goal, and fortunately we did that.”

(NFL Game Pass)

In the final picture below, notice Lang (circled in blue) pounding the tundra in frustration. He knew they missed a touchdown, and it ended up costing the Packers the game. Quite a play by the Bears’ second-string safety.